Brief Information on Press in Crisis in Nepal and Role of FNJ

Background Information

Nepali media has a long history as fourth state since beginning of democratic movement in Rana era. It has a historic record for fighting for democracy. Media persons began to promote professional unity through Nepal Journalist Association established on 12 Chaitra 2012 of Vikram Sambat ( March 1956 AD).

Journalism crossed embarrassments during the last sixty years history of Nepali media and democracy. Journalism remained a risky profession during Panchayat regime. Media persons played a vital role during the popular movement of 1990. The Constitution 1990 therefore placed freedom of expression and right to press as fundamental rights of the people of the Kingdom.

With this journey of press freedom and professional business of media persons Nepal Journalist Association came across to present Federation of Nepalese Journalists. FNJ therefore, is a expanded successor of Nepal Journalist Association.

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) is an umbrella organization of Nepali Journalists. It is professional organization endeavouring to promote role of media for the development of the country. It was established in 1956 and it was called Nepal Journalists Association. In 1996 the general assembly promoted the federation. FNJ represents 3478 journalists of Kingdom of Nepal. It has 68 branches across the country.

FNJ envisions a well-informed Nepali Society where freedom of press and speech are exercised and respected without hindrances. It motivates a fairer and open societal democratic environment where people are well informed and empowered for exercising their rights and responsibility, accountably and respecting their dignity mutually. Promotion of professional knowledge, skill and competence of journalists and media people and fair, accountable and credible media in the country. It aims at promotion and protection of professional rights and welfare of journalists. Design, develop and implement necessary programmes for journalists which helps in promotion of their professional competence for fair, accountable and credible media is another area where FNJ is endeavouring.

Crisis for Media in Nepal : Recent Past

After outbreak of violent conflicts between Communist Party of Nepal and the Government, media community of Nepal is facing multiple difficulties and threats on professional safety and safe life as media workers. There are several reports of attacks against professional media workers by both the government armed force and the armed rebels the Maoists.

During the Period of Emergency in 2002, a vast mass of media workers was affected by the emergency and violence occurred throughout the Kingdom of Nepal. The mainstream journalism was influenced by the situation and some sort of negotiated system of information was practiced instead of free and autonomous professional journalism. However, the media workers attempted to their best to favour freedom of expression, human rights and dignity of Nepali people and fair dissemination of available information. Access to the source of information, such as visiting incident site and interviewing witness, was denied in number of cases.

Several journalists were treated hostilely by the security forces of the state with an allegation of favouring Maoists through media activities. Similarly, several journalists were attacked and treated inhumanly and in intolerable manners by the armed groups of Maoists.

FNJ has documented cases of more than 18 papers which were closed due to the suppression by the government. Several publications were seized by the security and censored the circulation of several publication unconstitutionally to horrify the professional journalists and weaken the free press.

Six journalist were killed by the state securities during the period of emergency and two by the rebels. Three journalists were made disappeared by the state and four journalists were abducted and made missing for a longer period by the Maoists, one of the amongst four, Mr. Dhana Bahadur Magar's whereabouts is still unanswered.

Illegal detention and arbitrary arrests against media workers remain widespread. At least 56 journalists were arrested and detained for more than three months illegally. Four journalists were kept in such detention after arrest for more than 25 days. 62 journalists were arrested, maltreated, detained for a period of 24 hours to 25 days.

Dozens of journalists were misbehaved, threaded, looted and attacked by the rebels in different parts of the country during that time.

Present Situation

In February 2003 both conflicting parties declared cease fire and the process of dialogue was initiated which continued till August 2003. In this period, Nepali media community had felt a sort of relief in the mainstream publication and broadcasting and airing comparatively free manner that the emergency period. However, attack and threats to favour their selves were continually strategized by both conflicting parties.

When the third round of the dialogue failed to continue the possibility of political negotiation, the cease fire was dropped out by Maoists, immediately the government declared them as terrorists again. The armed conflict is continued and civilian population indifferent to the conflicts are highly affected by the conflict. Media is also in trap of the threats of both parties.

In present time there are number of cases of the violation of human rights of journalists are reported to FNJ. FNJ and its members are facing adverse effects of this armed conflicts incidences happened across the country.

Following table reflects some indications of the current scenario of the present atrocities attributed to media workers in Nepal by the conflicting parties:

Present Trend of Media

Dozens of journalists are leaving their profession as journalists as communication system is disturbed and due to lake of personal safety.

The journalists who where labelled by the government and securities as favouring Maoists through media activities and gone for underground life.

Media community has some sort of inferiority feeling and in free writing as it has to work between the guns and political and legal system are not in place to ensure personal social and public security of life. It is worried about the fate of freedom of the press and stability in the country.

The media has stressed continually the need of solution non-violently through dialogue and negotiation.

The voices of peace-lover people is priority of the press and private media at present time.

The media community have strongly felt that the media workers are hindered to access the information in the pretexts of safety and security.

What FNJ did in Past and Presently Doing

As an umbrella organisation of professional media workers, FNJ has played very important role in securing the life and liberty of journalists. In the period of emergency, it went for a street demonstration and professional protests for several weeks in the months of June-July 2002 and challenged the governments by many corners. Ultimately, the government was bound to sit for talk and negotiated in several issues. However, the government did not fulfil its commitments.

Dissemination of information about the atrocities against media workers was on of the important activities of FNJ in present history of Nepal. In emergency period due to this strategies and mobilised supports from international media community including IFLJ has contributed a lot to save the life and secure liberties of several journalists who had been subjected to threat to life and liberty by the conflicting parties. Both parties had got a continues pressure from the international community which was disseminated through FNJ channels.

In the assessments and evaluation of emergency, FNJ has marked significance of intervention of international community. After FNJ disseminated information to international community, the conflicting parties felt pressurised and reduced their atrocities to the victims in degree. Several victimised journalists have given their feedback that they received a different treatment by the forces after their cases were raised by international community.

Though FNJ had and has resource constraints, it tried to help victimised family and encouraged possible supports from civil community. FNJ mobilised its Journalists Welfare Fund to assist victimised journalists and their family for emergency rescue and immediate relief.

What FNJ is doing for Future

As it was effective strategy for reducing risks and threats against media workers through information dissemination and creating multi-facet pressure to conflicting parties, It is preparing to continue the information dissemination. I will continue its customary effective approaches. In addition to this, FNJ is initiating a hotline information service to facilitate the information providers. Similarly, effective monitoring and fact finding will also be organised to materialise the facts on attack against media. It is continuing a regular consultation to senior media workers and human rights defenders groups to reduce risks and defence freedom of press. FNJ encourage the media community of Nepal to favour non-violent civil societies spirit of peace and joins its hand in pressurising the conflicting parties to seek solution through peaceful talks and dialogue process.

Compiled by Federation of Nepalese Journalists, FNJ, Nepal

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